Current Portion of Non recourse Debt.

No definition available.

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Namespace Prefix:	geo_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Percentage points added to the reference rate to compute the variable rate on the debt instrument.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Face (par) amount of debt instrument at time of issuance.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 835

-SubTopic 30

-Section 45

-Paragraph 2

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6451184&loc=d3e28551-108399

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-Publisher FASB

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-Topic 835

-SubTopic 30

-Section 55

-Paragraph 8

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=34725769&loc=d3e28878-108400

+ Details

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Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Maximum contractual interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 22

-Article 5

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(1))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

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Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Minimum contractual interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 22

-Article 5

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(2))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

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- Definition

Description of the interest rate as being fixed or variable, and, if variable, identification of the index or rate on which the interest rate is based and the number of points or percentage added to that index or rate to set the rate, and other pertinent information, such as frequency of rate resets.

+ References

+ Details

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- Details

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- Definition

Fair value of the amount outstanding under the credit facility.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 825

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 10

-Subparagraph (a)

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-Publisher FASB

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-Topic 825

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 12

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35750535&loc=d3e13476-108611

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Maximum borrowing capacity under the credit facility without consideration of any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed or the amounts currently outstanding under the facility.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.19(b),22(b))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 19, 22

-Article 5

+ Details

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Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of debt for which creditor does not have general recourse to the debtor but rather has recourse only to the property used for collateral in the transaction or other specific property.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

The carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalent items which are restricted as to withdrawal or usage. Restrictions may include legally restricted deposits held as compensating balances against short-term borrowing arrangements, contracts entered into with others, or entity statements of intention with regard to particular deposits; however, time deposits and short-term certificates of deposit are not generally included in legally restricted deposits. Excludes compensating balance arrangements that are not agreements which legally restrict the use of cash amounts shown on the balance sheet. For a classified balance sheet represents the current portion only (the noncurrent portion has a separate concept); there is a separate and distinct element for unclassified presentations.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 1

-Article 5

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

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Balance Type:	debit
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- Definition

Cash and equivalents whose use in whole or in part is restricted for the long-term, generally by contractual agreements or regulatory requirements.

+ References

+ Details

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Debt Non-Recourse Debt (Details)	9 Months Ended			9 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
Debt Non-Recourse Debt (Details)	Sep. 30, 2014 Australian Subsidiaries Non Recourse Debt	Sep. 30, 2014 Non Recourse Debt USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2013 Non Recourse Debt USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2014 National Australia Bank Limited Construction Facility Non Recourse Debt	Sep. 30, 2014 Northwest Detention Center Non Recourse Debt Two Thousand Three Revenue Bonds USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2014 Northwest Detention Center Non Recourse Debt Northwest Detention Center USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2014 Northwest Detention Center Non Recourse Debt Two Thousand Eleven Revenue Bonds USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2014 Northwest Detention Center Non Recourse Debt USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2014 Fullham Australian Subsidiaries Non Recourse Debt USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2014 Fullham Australian Subsidiaries Non Recourse Debt AUD	Dec. 31, 2013 Fullham Australian Subsidiaries Non Recourse Debt USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2013 Fullham Australian Subsidiaries Non Recourse Debt AUD	Sep. 30, 2014 Ravenhall National Australia Bank Limited Construction Facility Non Recourse Debt USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2014 Ravenhall National Australia Bank Limited Construction Facility Non Recourse Debt AUD
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Face amount					$ 57,000,000.0		$ 54,400,000
Interest rate, minimum rate range								4.10%
Interest rate, maximum rate range								5.25%
Non-recourse debt		153,713,000	84,131,000					61,200,000	19,100,000	21,900,000	23,900,000	26,900,000
Current portion of non recourse debt								11,800,000
Current portion of restricted cash and cash equivalents						17,100,000
Interest rate terms									variable rate quoted by certain Australian banks plus 140 basis points	variable rate quoted by certain Australian banks plus 140 basis points
Basis spread on variable rate	1.40%			2.00%
Noncurrent portion of restricted cash and cash equivalents									4,400,000	5,000,000
Maximum borrowing capacity													690,300,000	791,000,000
Amount outstanding on line of credit													$ 74,200,000